$2.20 Yikes!

[Larry Brown]

The gas prices here around the Peoria (Illinois) area seem to reflect the same as what you all are paying up north! I will be up in the Bemidji area for 2 weeks in June and its 700 mile one way from my house. I have been vacationing in Minnesota for the past 14 years, staying 2 weeks at the same resort. Although inflation has caused the resort owners to raise their rates it doesn't even compare to what the fuel will cost this year. I drive a Tahoe and pull a Lund Pro Angler, there will be 5 passengers (2 adults & 3 children) so the load will be heavy. Could the day have come that half your vacation budget is for fuel?

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Gun Dog

[Uncle Grump]

Here are some things to think about....

1) How much are you driving? Have you reduced the number of trips you make? Is there more than one passenger in that vehicle?

2) How hard are you pushing down on the pedal?

3) What are you driving?

4) How up to date is your vehicle maintinence?

I admit I don't like the gas price going up one little bit, but there things we can do to reduce the effect, and ease the sting on the wallet - and still hit the water.

Think about your habits, and then look at what you see on the road.

My 4WD PU is sitting in the garage, cause my rice burner gets better mileage (34 combined, 42 hwy). How about making believe that there's an egg under the gas pedal, and you best not break it?

Behavior modification anyone? I can drive 27 miles one way to work, or I can drive 6 to the park and ride, and then catch the bus. Which is easier on the gas tank? Remember, the metro bus strike pointed out that the buses are subsidized. If you live in the metro - you're paying for them (property taxes to the Met Council) - so use them.

Air filters, gas filters, tire pressure, etc make a differance.

From my perspective, its obvious that gas must still be "cheap", because I still see alot of single passenger trips being made -
and in the gas guzzlers to boot, lots of "jack rabbit" starts at lights and stop signs, and folks exceeding the posted limits on the roads.

All this stuff is what we do to ourselves. We can lessen the effect.

UG

[10 poyntr]

Well said, Uncle Grump! I said the same thing earlier. Unless driving habits change, I don't want to hear about high gas prices! I paid particular attention today at driving habits. Unbelievable! People are driving faster than ever! It's so funny(sad) to watch a car blow by me when just a block ahead is a light that just turned red. I come crawling up next to him, light turns, and he's off again, only to see him at next light, etc. Most everyone seems to enjoying life while driving fast, wasting gas, only to get home and complain to the wife how much gas was today! People seem to panic and are just desperate to be in "fast lane" and can't wait to pass the next car. Doesn't anyone else feel this way?